Machine for setting buttons.



No. 639,456. Patented Dec. I9, 1899.

F. E. STANLEY &. F. E. WARNER.

MACHINE run SETTING BUTTONS.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

, I n I a h No. 639,456. Patentd Dec. l9, I899. F. E-. STANLEY & F. E. WARNER.

MACHINE FOR SETTING BUTTONS.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1899.]

3 Sheets$heet 2 (No Model.)

#1 mvan-tow g I QGH OIWK'AA No. 639,456. PatentedDec. l9, I899.

F. E. STANLEY &. F. E. WARNER.

MACHINE FOB SETTING BUTTONS.

(Application filed Aug. 12, 1899.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

wt Ncmus PETERS on. PHOrG-LITHU,WASHWGTDN, u c

ramas J NlTlE met.

FREDERICK E. STANLEY AND FRANK E. WARNER, OF WATERBURY, CON

NECTIOUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE SCOVILL on- SAME PLACE.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY;

MACHINE Foa SETTING BUTTONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 639,456, dated. December 19, 189R. Application filed August 12, 1899. Serial No. 727,050. No model-l T0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FREDERICK E. STAN- LEY and FRANK E. WARNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Waterbu r in the county of New Haven and State of Oonnecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Setting Buttons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 7 This invention relates to that class of machines which are used for attaching buttons to garments by means of metallic fasteners, such as tacks, eyelets, and the like; and the object of the invention is to hold the fastening device in position when,having been taken from its feed-chute, ,it is carried upward and passed through the cloth or garment and into the button.

Prior to this invention the carrier for the fastener has comprised a vertically-reciproeating plunger which is surrounded at its upper end by a sleeve, which sleeve is normally projected above the upper level of the plunger by means of a spring, the fastener being contained within the sleeve and its head resting upon the plunger and being carried up by the plunger and forced through the garment and into the button. During this opera tion if the fastener, especial lya tack,has for its lateral support only the surrounding sleeve the point of the tack is practically unsupported laterally, and it sometimes occurs, especially in rapid running of the machine, that the said point is deflected fromavertical line and fails to enter the button or is de formed. Our invention is designed to support the point or shank of the fastener as itis being carried to and forced through the garment or fabric and into the button.

The invention consists in a button-setting machine havinga reciprocating fastener-carrier combined with sliding jaws which are adaptedto engage the point or shank of the fastener as the fastener is moved up to and through the garment and to support the same. These jaws also are capable of separation laterally in order to permit the intimate engagementof the mechanism by which the button and its fastener are ultimately united.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the head of one form of buttonsetting machine especially designed for used in connection with tacks. Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the sliding jaws. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the setting mechanism, the parts being in the position when at rest and also being in the position when the plunger has been given its initial movement. Fig. 4is a front elevation of the setting mechanism, the sliding jaws having been given their first upward movement. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the setting mechanism with the jaws separated as they will be when the plunger has been given its final movement for uniting the button and fastener. Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation taken at right angles to Figs. 3, 4, and 5 and illustrating the position ofparts when .at rest and also when about to begin the initial movement. Fig.7 is a similar sectional elevation showing the parts at the conclusion of the initial movement. Fig. 8 is a similar sectional elevation showing the parts as in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a similar elevation showing the parts as in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is an elevation of a button-receiver of a modification by which our invention may be used with eyelet-fasteners, and Fig. 11 is a section showing a modification of the fastener-carrier for use with such eyelet-fasteners and the buttonreceiver of Fig. 10. i The frame a may be a suitable casting adapted to be supported upon a table or stand and sustaining a button-turret b, of any approved construction, and a button-chute 6, leading from said turret to the bu tton-receiver b b is a cut-off which is operated from the rock-shaft 13 which in turn is actuated by a finger or switch U, which normally closes the mouth of the button-receiver and which is vibrated by the withdrawal of the garment at each setting of the button, thus to release a button to be attached. 0 is a turret also mounted upon said casting and containing the fasteners and provided with a chute 0, leading to the fastener-carrier, and supplied with a cut-0E 0 The fastener cut-off c is normally held to close the chute by a spring I00 0 d is a rock-lever pivoted at d to the casting a, and to this rock-lever is pivoted an arm which actuates apawl-and-ratchet mechanism d for rotating the button-turret b. This lever d also carries an arm (1 which actuates the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism d of the fastener-turret, and the arm (I has an offset 6, which engages the finger e of the cut-off c to actuate it to release a fastener at the proper moment.

The frame a is provided with a depending socket-piece f, to which are affixed the clothguides f, shaped and arranged substantially as shown. Within the socket-piece f is arranged the plunger-stem g, so as to have a vertically-reciprocatin g motion therein. This plunger-stem is connected by a link g with the lever h, pivoted at h in the bottom of the socket f, and arranged to be vibrated upon its pivot h. The plunger-stem is further provided with a lug t', which is connected by a link 1" with the lever d, so as to vibrate said last-named lever, and thus transmit motion to the two turrets and to the cut-off 0 The lug 'i plays in the slot 2' in the back of the socket f, and thus serves also to guide the movement. of the plunger-stem. The plunger-stem is provided with a longitudinal cavity in its upper end, as at j, and within this cavity is arranged a plunger of considerably less diameter than the diameter of the cavity. The plunger 70 is mounted upon or may be a part of the plunger-stern c ,and it is surrounded by a sleeve Z, which may be slotted longitudinally and connected with the plunger by a transverse pin 1, so as to permit the movement of the sleeve independently of. the movement of the plunger. This sleeve is arranged, of course, within the cavityj and is normally supported by means of a spring 1*, arranged in the cavity and serving to project the upper portion of the sleeve considerably above the upper face of the plunger to form a cavity to receive the fastener, as indicated in Fig. 6. The level of the sleeve when at rest is below the discharge end of the tack-chute, and thus is in position to receive a tack when discharged from the chute.

On the front of the socket are arranged jaws m m, pivoted at m to each other and arrested in their descent by stops m on the face of the socket. These jaws are secured to the face of the socket by means of a headed screw it, which is arranged in a slot formation composed of adjacent grooves n in the jaws, the said screw 7% being tapped in the socket, and, further, by tension-screw 0,which is also attached to the socket and is supplied with a friction-Washer 0, and the spring 0 interposed between said washer and the head of the screw. The jaws are further grooved out at p in adjacent faces and above the grooves n n, and in the slot formation consisting of the grooves p p is arranged a stud g, which is tapped into the plunger-stem g and is reciprocated by it. The jaws m m are normally pressed togetherv by springs r or other suitable means. The upper ends 8 of the jaws m 'm are bent rearwardly at right angles to form a table which ultimately carries the garment into position to receive the button. These ends 8 are notched out at s to form a support for the point or shank of the fastener, and they are also reamed out or hollowed out, as at 5 to guide the fastener into the notch s. The jaws may be provided with knobs t to separate them by hand whenever desired.

The operation is as follows: Buttons having been supplied in the button-turret and fastenersfor example, tacksin the fastener-turret and a garment to be supplied with buttons being in readiness, the said garment is laid across the guides f, and upward motion being imparted to the lever h the plunger-stem g is moved upwardly. Meanwhile a button having been entered into the receiver and a tack into the carrier, the upward movement of the sleeve Z is arrested by coming into contact with the under side of the parts .9 s of the vertically-sliding jaws; but the movement of the plunger continuing, the point of the tack is projected through the guide-notch s and is thereby supported against lateral displacementin the further upward movement of the plunger. The pin Z, having reached the end of the slotin the sleeve and the spring Z being compressed to its limit, the plunger carries up the sleeve in its further ascent, and the sleeve carries up the sliding jaws until their upward movement is arrested by contact with the receiver, as in Figs. 4 and 8, thus carrying the garment up to the said receiver and clamping it between the ends 5 s and the receiver, and the plunger continuing its further upward movement the stud q, acting against the upper ends of the slot formation 19 19, parts the jaws and causes them to separate from one another upon their hinge member m and open laterally for the passage of the plunger and sleeve through the parted ends 5 s and against the under side of the garment to complete the union of the button and the fastener and the setting thereof upon the garment. The lever 7t has now attained the limit of its upward stroke, and upon the return stroke the plunger recedes from the jaws, and passing down into its first position the carrier receives another tack from the tack-chute, the tackchute cut-off having been previously operated to discharge a tack, and the tack being retained in said chute by the rear side of the plunger-stem during the upward movement. (See Figs. 8 and 9.) The jaws are retained in their elevated position temporarily by the friction device 0 and until the stud g has passed from between the jaws into the slot formation and into the bottom of said slot formation, when it carries down the jaws into first position, and as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 7.

We have shown a button-receiver constructed in accordance with the patent of the Scovill Manufacturing Company, assignees of Alfred J. Shipley, No. 579,017, dated March 16, 1897, and in which the die has a station ary portion which is surrounded by a movable sleeve and which is the button-receiver proper; but we do not limit ourinvention to the employment of that particular form of button-receiver. We prefer to use a buttonreceiver which is adapted to operate the button-chute cut-oh to feed buttons to the re ceiver by the withdrawal of the garment from the receiver after each setting of the button, and that of the patent mentioned is of that character.

The upward movement of the jaws is limited by the friction device coming in contact with the hinge end of the jaws or by the washer of said friction device coming into contact with the head of the pivot-screw m, and it is after this limit has been reached that the stud q in its further upward movement parts or spreads the jaws for the passage of the fastener-carrier. During both the upward and downward movement of the jaws the springs r tend to press the jaws toward each other to preserve the slot formations for cooperation with the screw it, the friction device 0 0, and the stud q and also serve to preserve the vertical alinement of these jaws with the socket, and while we have shown flat springs arranged at the sides of these jaws we do not limit ourinvention to such springs, but esteem as within our invention any other arrangement of springs which willserve to hold the jaws together and to permit their being parted, as before described. v

As already indicated, the machine is ap plicable for use with other than tack fasteners, and in order to illustrate one such adaptation of our invention we have shown in Figs. 10 and 11, respectively, a button-receiver and an eyelet-carrier, although the receiver already described or any other receiver may beused in connection with an eyelet fastener. Referring now to these figures, u is a bracket having a shank u, by which it may be secured in the frame, and supplied with a die 21, and a needle 10 for engaging the button and piercing the garment for the passage of the eyelet. a is a button-holding plate having the opening a to receive the shank of the button and to permit the passage of the needle and of the eyelet. This plate is suspended from the bracket "a by means of posts a, with springs a interposed between the plate and the bracket and permitting the vertical movement of the plate with relation to the bracket. The carrier may comprise a plunger-stem 1;, having the plunger i provided with a recess o for cooperation with the needle, and having a sleeve o secured to the plunger, as before described, and supported around it by the spring "0 As the plunger risesit comes into contact with the plate a and lifts it so as to cause the needle a to pass through the button and penetrate the cloth and forces the eyelet through the opening in the cloth thus made and thence into the button, where its end is upset within the button by means of the die M The springs a yield to permit the rise of the plate under the action of the plunger, and when the plunger descends said plate also descends and strips the garment, with the button attached, from the mechanism and permits it to be withdrawn. The sleeve 0 serves as a support for the garment during the operation of setting the button.

As already sufficiently indicated, we mean to include as capable of use with our present invention any form of receiver and carrier for attaching buttons by any form of fastener.

What we claim is- 1. In a button-setting machine, buttonsetting mechanism, having a vertically-reciprocating fastener-carrier, and a fastener-guide consisting essentially of a pair of pivoted jaws normally closed, a stud affixed to said carrier and engaging the said jaws to carry them up with the carrier for a predetermined distance and thereafter adapted to open said jaws to permit the passage of the carrier between them, substantially as described.

2. In a button-setting machine, the combination of a button-receiver, a vertically-reciprocating fastener-carrier, and a fastenerguide comprising jaws pivoted together at their lower ends,having horizontal upper ends notched to receive the'point or shank of the fastener, and sprin gs fornormally holding the jaws closed, and a stud carried by the fastener-carrier and engaging the jaws to lift them with the carrier and to part them for the passage of the carrier, substantially as described.

3. In a button-setting machine, a buttonreceiver, a vertically-reciprocating fastenercarrier, and a socket in which said carrier is arranged, combined with a pair of spring-actuated jaws, pivoted together, mounted upon the socket and frictionally supported thereon, and a stud projecting from said carrier and engaging the said jaws to elevate them with the carrier and to part them for the passage of the carrier, substantially as described.

at. In a button-settin g machine, button-set ting mechanism,includingareciprocating fastener-carrier, a button-receiver, and a pair of spring-actuated jaws movable longitudinally with the carrier, having horizontally-arranged ends forming a guide for the fastener and a support for the garment, a headed screw holding the said jaws in place and permitting longitudin al movement thereof, a connection between said jaws and the fastener-carrier, and a tension device for holding the said jaws in elevated position when so moved by. the fastener-carrier, substantially as described.

5. In a button-setting machine, a buttonreceiver, a vertically-reciprocating fastenercarrier, a socket in which said carrier is arranged, a pair of jaws pivoted together and mounted upon the socket, a connection between the jaws and the carrier by which the said jaws are moved with said carrier, said connection having a certain amount of lost motion relatively to the jaws on the return stroke, and a friction device for temporarily retaining the jaws in elevated position upon the return stroke of the carrier, substantially as described.

6. In a button-setting machine, a buttonreceiver, a Vertically-reciprocating fastenercarrier, a socket in which said carrier is arranged, a pair of spring-closed jaws pivoted together at one end and having two distinct slot formations between their adjacent edges, a headed fastening arranged in one of said slot formations and securing said jaws slidably upon the socket, a friction device arranged in the same slot formation, and a headed stud arranged in the other slot formation and fast to the carrier and adapted to move the jaws longitudinally with the carrier and thereafterpart the jaws from one another for the further movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

7. In a button-setting machine, the combination of a vertically-reciprocating fastenercarrier, a frame in which it travels, a guide for the fastener mounted to slide up and down upon said frame, means to connect the guide with the carrier and to cause said guide to be moved up and down with the carrier, means to fasten the guide to the frame and limit its upward movement, and stops to arrest its downward movement, substantially as de-' scribed.

8. In a button-setting machine, button-set ting mechanism including a fastener-carrier,

and a button-receiver, said receiver comprising a bracket having a die and needle, a plate recessed to receive and support the button, posts attached to said plate and having a sliding union with the bracket, and springs interposed between the plate and bracket and permitting the plate to yield as the fastenercarrier moves upwardly against and with it, to assemble the button and eyelet and unite them, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 11th day of August, A. D. 1899.

FREDERICK E. STANLEY. FRANK E. WARNER. \Vitnesses:

T. R. HYDE, J12, E. A. HYDE. 

